HEALTHY HELPING: Ward 15 councillor Judi Partridge, centre, joins Grace Anglican Church congregation members, including Rev. Sue-Ann Ward and volunteers John and Bette Hepburn, Richard Collins, Eric Halliwell, Linda Burnett and Cherry Collins, during the launch of the Hamilton Good Food Box program at the Mill Street North church. The goods were delivered by Susan Moore (second from the left).

Flamborough Food Bank secures Waterdown location

By Catherine O’Hara
REVIEW STAFF

The hunt is over for the Flamborough Food Bank’s Waterdown location.

Starting on Tuesday, February 5, the Flamborough Food Bank will operate a satellite location at Grace Anglican Church on Mill Street North. Weekly, clients of the not-for-profit agency, based in Carlisle, can stop in to the food bank’s ancillary location to pick up needed items.

This is good news, said the food bank manager, Gail Bosma. “I think there is probably quite a few in Waterdown who just can’t get to us,” she said, adding the new site will serve the community well.

Transportation to the Flamborough Food Bank, located at the back of Carlisle United Church on Centre Road, has long been a challenge for many in need of its services.

But that’s going to change, now that a satellite site is located in the heart of the Victorian Village. “It’s walkable,” said Ward 15 councillor Judi Partridge, who was pleased to hear of the partnership between the Flamborough Food Bank and Grace Anglican Church.

Teaming up with the Carlisle-based organization seemed like a natural fit for the local congregation, which recently signed up to host the Hamilton Good Food Box program.

“The parish was very gung-ho about it,” said Rev. Sue-Ann Ward. “It’s something we can do, should do and want to do.”

For the first few months, food boxes will be packaged at the food bank’s Carlisle headquarters before being transported to Waterdown. Clients can stop in every Tuesday between 3 and 7 p.m. to pick up the ready-made parcels, which will feature some of the most common and needed items for individuals, families and youth.

Perishable items will also be available to families at the Waterdown location.

“As we learn what people’s needs are and develop our capacity here, then we’ll be able to expand and make it more of a shopping expedition,” said Ward.

In addition to its partnership with the Flamborough Food Bank, Grace Anglican Church is home to the Good Food Box program, which offers high quality, healthy foods for a fraction of the retail price.

The program, which launched last Wednesday (Jan. 23), saw some 15 individuals pick up a large bag of seasonal fruits and veggies. Each bag, which costs $15 but retails between $25 and $30, contained numerous items, including eight bananas, a head of cabbage, one cucumber, a bag of spinach, oranges, apples, carrots, and sweet potatoes.

The items in the Good Food Box, noted the church’s Food with Grace coordinator, Cherry Collins, will vary from month to month.

While the program is being hailed as an opportunity to build connections with neighbours, it also promotes buying more farm-fresh local produce.

Everyone is invited to participate in the program. Interested community residents must place their order and pay for their Good Food Box by the third Wednesday of each month before picking it up a week later.

Delivering the goods to Grace Anglican Church last Wednesday was volunteer Susan Moore, who owns and operates Top Drawer Senior Support Services, a business that allows seniors to live independently in their homes.

With a personal interest in nutrition, Moore saw the Good Food Box program as a great way to further promote eating healthy and locally. For the past month, she has volunteered her time – and her truck – to deliver orders throughout Hamilton.

“I’m very concerned about people getting the right nutrition, which is part of my own business – making sure people have meals delivered to their door that are healthy and tasty and not too expensive,” noted Moore.

And the Hamilton Good Food Box program offers just that, noted Collins.

For more information about the program or to place an order, contact site coordinator Sylvia Young at office@graceanglicanwaterdown.org or 905-689-6715.

Information about the Flamborough Food Bank’s satellite location is available by contacting the food bank at flamboroughfb@hotmail.com or 905-690-1036.